Propulsion wheel



Nov. 3, 1931.

INVENTOR Wffiuflycock ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1931 I UNITED STATESWILLIE E. AYCOCK, OF ALEXATNDRIAQLOUISIANA PROPULSION WHEEL Applicationfiled October 11,1929. Serial no. 399,035.

This invention relates to paddle wheels for boats and more particularlyto boats of shallow draft.

A primary object of the invention is to so construct a paddle orpropulsion wheel'for boats that the water cannot be bucketed by thewheel and consequently less driving power will be required. 7

Another object is to construct the wheel so that a plurality of paddlesare in the Water pushing at all times thereby eliminating the impulsesproduced when only one paddle is in the water at a time, and therebyproducing a driving unit having maximum smoothness in operation andwhich requires a minimum amount of driving power.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of a widerange of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the claimed invention; therebeing shown in thedrawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, inwhich:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a 2 propulsion wheel constructedin accordance with this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 with linesarranged to show the water line and the diameter of the wheel inrelation thereto.

The paddle or propulsion wheel 10 here shown is composed of a pluralityof longitudinally alined endwise disposed connected sections 11 and 12,although it is to be understood that any desired number of sections maybe employed. These sections are each made in cross sectional contour inthe form of a six pointed star as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and onesection is arranged in relation to the other so that the points of eachstar on one section alternate with the spaces of the adjacent sectionsas shown in full in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A shaft 13 extends centrally through the sections and is fixed to themprojectlng at its ends beyond the outer ends of the sections andprovided at said ends with operating elements here shown in the form ofcranks 14: which may be connected and operated by any suitable drivingmechanism, it,

of course, being understood that the rotation of the crank operatesthrough the shaft 13 to revolve the wheel 10.

This wheel 10 may be constructed of any desired suitable material,either wood or steel and in any number of sections so that when inoperationa plurality of paddles will be always in the water pushing atall times against the water and thus eliminating the usual impulses dueto use of one paddle only at a time. The points 15 of the six pointedstar form the paddles of the wheel and the angle between the points isdegrees so that when the wheel revolves the paddles cannot bucket thewater thereby requiring much less'power for driving the wheel. Thepaddles of the section 12 are arranged at an angle of 30 degrees inrelation to those of the section 11 thereby insuring a plurality ofpaddles being always immersed in the water which makes for a smootherdriving unit owing to the fact that these immersed paddles are alwayspushing the water and eliminating the impulses such as are caused whenonly one paddle is immersed at a time,

Each section is provided at its ends with disks, three being here shownand numbered 16, 17 and 18. The disk 17 constitutes the inner end memberfor both sections 11 and 12 and to which the ends of the paddle 15 aresecured. The diameter of the wheel should be four times the draft of theboat as is shown clearly in Fig. 2, the length of the dot and dash line19 indicating the di- I ameter of the wheel while the length of the line20 denotes the draft of the boat. The formation of the wheel as a sixpointed star in cross sectional contour causes it to operate in themanner of an overshot water mill and each bucket formed between adjacentpaddles is so enclosed that no water can get out at the end of the wheelnor pass from one bucket to the other. The peculiar six pointed starshape of this wheel causes the water to slide freely ofi the paddlespreventing any picking up of the water and insuring a smooth operationof the wheel.

It will thus be seen that a wheel of this character is most advantageousfor use in shallow draft boats particularly and for use in boats inwhich the power driving means is comparatively weak.

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will, of course be understood that changes in the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

I claim:

1. A propulsion wheel, the cross sectional contour of which is in theform of a six pointed star forming paddles arranged at obtuse angles toeach other to avoid bucketing of the Water thereby.

2. A propulsion wheel composed of a plurality of sections arranged inlongitudinal alinement, each of said sections being in the form of a sixpointed star and the points of one section being arranged to alternatewith those of the adjacent section, the diameter of the Wheel being fourtimes as great as the draft of the boat on which the wheel is to beused.

3. A propulsion wheel comprising a plurality of paddles with the Waterengaging surfaces of adjacent paddles arranged at obtuse angles to causethe water to slide freely therefrom Without bucketing, the diameter ofsaid wheel being four times the draft of the boat in connection withwhich it is to be used.

WILLIE E. AYCOCK.

